Lady Rams sweep season series against Pikeville in four sets

Lady Rams dominate in four sets over Pikeville (Ky.)

The Bluefield College volleyball team picked up a non-conference win over the University of Pikeville Lady Bears in four sets on Monday night.

The Lady Rams improved their overall record to 6-22 with the 25-14, 25-19, 20-25, 28-26 victory.

After taking a 13-12 lead in the first set, the Lady Rams went on a 5-0 run to open up an 18-12 lead.

After a Pikeville timeout, a Bluefield service error ended the run. Pikeville would add one more point, but the Lady Rams closed the set out with a 7-0 run.

Two kills from senior Ashley Strickland, along with back-to-back blocks and a kill from junior Angi Highlander fueled the closing stretch, giving Bluefield a 25-14 win.

The second set was back-and-forth with Bluefield holding a 15-13 lead midway through. Three kills from junior Megan Randall helped spark a 5-0 run and a 20-13 lead for the Lady Rams, and Pikeville was not able to regain enough momentum to close the deficit.

Kills from Highlander gave the Lady Rams their final two points and a 25-19 win and a 2-0 lead in the match.

Bluefield fell behind early in the third set, but was able to stay close and tie the set at 10-10. Pikeville regained the lead on a 10-3 run and did not relinquish it again en route to a 25-20 win.

Pikeville gained momentum in the fourth set, jumping out to a 14-7 lead over Bluefield, but the Lady Rams clawed back to within one point at 22-21 late in the set.

Pikeville scored after a timeout and took a two-point lead, but three consecutive kills from Randall gave Bluefield its first lead of the set at 24-23.

Trailing 25-24 and facing a loss in the set, a kill from Randall tied the match back up at 25-25. Pikeville regained a 26-25 lead, but a service error knotted it back up at 26-26.

An outside attack from Strickland gave the Lady Rams a 27-26 lead. Pikeville was unable to handle the following serve, passing the ball just over the middle of the net and Highlander went up with two hands to put the ball away for the point, clinching the match for the Lady Rams with a 28-26 win.

The win ended a 10-match losing streak for the Lady Rams with their last win coming against Tennessee Wesleyan on Oct. 4.

“It’s good to get over the hump,” said head coach Brian Votaw. “We’ve been close. We played West Virginia Tech to five. It’s a lesson to remember. Don’t count yourselves out.

“This is a huge monkey off our back. It’s nice to get a win and put some confidence in the girls and realize that their hard work has paid off.”

Highlander finished the match with 18 kills and two blocks. Randall compiled 17 kills, two aces, and a block. Strickland had nine kills.

The Lady Rams return to the court at Union College (13-13, 10-1 AAC) on Thursday. The next home match will be against NCAA Division II University of Charleston (12-16, 6-5 WVIAC) on Friday at 6 p.m. in the Dome Gymnasium